Seawall sought as shoreline recedes

ILOCOS SUR — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking expedited funding for a reinforced concrete seawall in Barangay Pantoc, where coastal erosion has worsened due to successive typhoons, southwest monsoon or habagat rains, high tides and storm surges.

The DPWH Ilocos Sur Second District Engineering Office has completed the project design, program of work, plans and specifications and submitted them to the DPWH regional office on 1 September for review and approval.

As of 8 September, the project was set to be transmitted to the DPWH Central Office for funding consideration under the Quick Response Fund.

The proposed seawall is intended to halt the continuing retreat of the shoreline and protect the community from further erosion and scouring caused by strong waves and other coastal conditions.

According to the DPWH assessment, Barangay Pantoc is highly exposed to coastal erosion because it faces the open sea. Previous typhoon damage, combined with prolonged monsoon rains, high tides and storm surges, has further weakened the shoreline.

More than 80 percent of the barangay’s 1,115 residents have reportedly been affected by the worsening erosion.

The situation escalated on 2 September when two houses were swept away by seawater, while four others remained at risk as the shoreline continued to recede.

The beach has lost nearly 10 meters of shoreline since the rainy season began this year, compared with the usual three to five meters of annual erosion.

While awaiting the proposed permanent protection structure, the DPWH deployed 2,000 sandbags to critical areas affected by severe scouring to lessen the impact of waves.

Residents joined personnel from the local government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard and other government agencies in the sandbagging operations. Volunteers from various non-government organizations also took part.

Additional sandbags and gabion baskets were provided by the local and provincial governments, neighboring barangays and NGOs to reinforce vulnerable sections of the shoreline.